The Travel Bug

Discovering the world around me, one place at a time...

30 October 2014

San Antonio Special Sites

Visitors come to San Antonio to enjoy the charm of the city, to re-live the city’s dramatic history, to walk the famous River Walk, and to take part in recreational attractions such as Sea World, Six Flags Over Texas, the best public golf courses in Texas, and so much more.

River Walk

This is a unique network of two parallel sidewalks that go alongside the banks of the San Antonio River one story under the Downtown San Antonio streets. Shops and restaurants line this pedestrian street which connects major tourist areas. The Fiesta San Antonio springtime River Parade features flowery floats on the river.

Four Missions

Mission Concepcion, Mission San Juan. Mission San Jose, and Mission Espada are accessible from downtown. For example, Mission Concepcion is a 200-year-old restored Franciscan mission. It is beautifully painted, has more original stonework than any of the other missions, has a rotunda in the center, a couple of small chapels, spectacular original wall frescos, and is still a functioning church.

Fort Sam Houston

Located in the heart of San Antonio, this fort originated in 1845 when a garrison and regional headquarters were established. The Post continued to expand with the addition of the Infantry Post in the 1880s. Designated as Fort Sam Houston in 1890 and named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston, it expanded again in 1905 and then with the New Post of the 1930s. It is the largest collection of more than 800 historic buildings in the Department of Defense. The Fort was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and as a U.S. National Historic Landmark District on May 15, 1975.

Click here to learn more about tours to these and many other attractions in San Antonio.

21 October 2014

Spooky Hotels to Visit This Halloween

It's that time of the year again when stories of peculiar apparitions and events in certain hotels around the world that makes them popular to the-not-so-faint-at-heart folks make their rounds. I am not the thrill-seeker kind so I guess I'll have to pass this one up. However, if you're into these kinds of stuff then check out these famous hotels and see if you can book for a night.

Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA

This hotel is a famous landmark in San Diego. It opened in 1888 and apparently, a young lady guest named Kate Morgan haunts the hotel. The story of Kate Morgan's ghostly apparitions came to be when she checked in at Hotel Coronado alone and claimed that she got separated in the train with her "brother." Her "brother" had her suitcase and would take care of her as soon as he arrived the hotel. However, no "brother" arrived in the coming days. And one day, she was found dead, early in the morning outside the hotel.

Her room was #3327. Who ever is brave enough to book there is one tough cookie! It is hard to reserve the room though so you may have to wait in line.

My family and I visited the hotel last 2009. We were too "chicken" to book a room so a photo-op was enough to satisfy our curiosity.

Photo credit: pinterest.com

Queen Mary Hotel, Long Beach, CA

This old cruise liner-turned hotel is hosts to many "hot psychic hot spots." The ocean-liner/hotel has plenty of haunted areas that there is even a "haunted tour" you can book to "experience" the weird phenomena happening in the ship.

If you want to experience something thrilling as the other tourists who went through the haunted tour in Queen Mary, then you can check out this site for more info: http://www.queenmary.com/tours-exhibits/tours-exhibits-attractions/haunted-encounters/

Photo credit: voyages-et-monuments.blogspot.com

Fairmont Le Chateau Fronentac, Quebec City, Canada

There are stories about the ghost of Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac that are claimed to be true. You may get lucky to see Louis sitting and looking sad on windowsills around the property.

Photo credit: chucktaylorblog.blogspot.com

Hotel Chelsea, New York City, NY

The Chelsea Hotel has a star-power ghosts in its property. The likes of Warhol, Joplin and Twain haunts the hotel and this is also the same hotel where Sid Vicious (the punk rocker) stabbed Nancy in 1978.

Photo credit: hauntedrooms.com

Banff Springs Hotel - Alberta, Canada

One friendly bellman just loved his work so much that even after death, he still did his duties, helping guests and not taking tips. Another ghost in this hotel is from the very sad demise of a young bride who trampled to her death when she fell down the stairs because her dress caught fire. She could be seen by some guests dancing alone in the dining room and apparently, even pushing guests.

Photo credit: secondglobe.com

Karosta Prison Hostel, Latvia

This hotel used to be Nazi and Soviet military prison which has been turned into a prison-themed hotel. Guests can experience light bulbs unscrewing on their own, doors that open and a lady ghost walking around the prison-hotel.

Photo credit: pinterest.com

Ballygally Castle Hotel, Northern Ireland

Isobella Shaw, the former Lady of the Castle in 1625, is said to have paid frightening visits to guests before disappearing into the night. Story has it that Lord Shaw had locked her inside a room, immediately after she gave birth to their son. She died after falling out of a window in an attempt to escape. It is believed she has wandered the castle for over 400 years in search of the son who was taken from her.

Photo credit: classictravel.com

Langham Hotel, London

Since it was opened to the public in 1865, the Langham Hotel in London has been frequented by a number prominent personalities like Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain. It is said that one of the ghosts is of a man in Victorian evening wear who appears in Room 333 only during October. A guest claimed to have seen a ghostly figure of a man in military dress standing by the window on the fourth floor. Some say that it is probably the ghost of a German Prince who committed suicide by jumping out of a window just before the beginning of World War I. A famous guest of the hotel who seemed to not checked out is Napoleon III.

Do you know other hotels that are haunted? Have you ever stayed in any of them? If so, share your experience here.

14 October 2014

Pinterest Party

13 October 2014

Camping Necessities for Fall

Now that the hot summer weather has given way to the cooler breeze of autumn, this will be a great time to venture to the wilderness and gaze to the stars at night with your family and friends.
It is wise to be properly dressed and have all the necessary tools and kits for a fun and safe venture in the great outdoors.

Pelican - PRO GEAR ELITE 95QT COOLER TAN POLYETHYLENE PRESS/PULL

A camping adventure will not be complete without a nice cooler to store those beverages and other food to be cooked and served later on.

Coleman - Port Toilet

Some campers are very privy and would rather do their natural business the usual way. So, bring one of these portable toilet and let the fussy ones use this instead of the expanse of what nature can provide.

I'm probably one of those fussy campers who will opt to carry her/his own portalet!

Cabela's - Deluxe Camp Beds

Fashion Pet - Outdoor Dog Plaid Fleece Jacket, Small, Blue

Camping is not just about bringing the right tools to enjoy the outdoors. If you're planning to tag your furry best friend, ensure that your pet is dressed appropriately. It can get very cold at night.